Head Case

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Head Case

What's Beethoven doing these days? Decomposing. OK, old joke. But at least two parts of the greatest composer in history – large segments of his skull, to be precise – are definitely not moldering in his Viennese grave. DNA testing proves conclusively that the skull fragments which turned up at San Jose State University's center for Beethoven studies on Thursday once encased the brilliant, if erratic, brain of the man who composed some of the most sublime music ever written. The fragments vanished when Beethoven was reburied at Vienna's central cemetery 142 years ago, possibly removed the great-great uncle of the California man who offered them on long-term loan to the center. There are no plans to exhibit the skull fragments publicly, although the center may arrange for a limited display in the future.